GSBA Vision & Mission

MISSION: To combine business development, leadership and social action to expand economic opportunities for the LGBT Community and those who support equality for all.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Let’s pass the Employment Non-Discrimination Act! (ENDA)

The Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) was recently introduced in the Senate by Senator Jeff Merkley (OR-D) joined by Senators Susan Collins (ME-R) and Edward M. Kennedy (MA-D) and is a companion bill to H.R. 3017. The introduction of this bill marks an important day for supporters of fairness and equality. Workplace protections for LGBT people are urgently needed and long overdue. We have waited far too long for a meaningful chance to see protections from discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity enacted into federal law.

ENDA would ban employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. It creates express protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) people similar to those available under existing federal discrimination laws for other protected classes of workers. The bill enjoys bipartisan support in Congress, and President Obama has made clear that passing an inclusive ENDA is one of the priorities of his civil rights agenda.

Currently, twelve states, the District of Columbia, and more than 100 localities have non-discrimination protections that protect all LGBT workers, covering nearly 40 percent of Americans. Additionally, more than 150 Fortune 500 companies have enacted non-discrimination policies protecting LGBT workers. These advancements are a testament to the heroic efforts of local advocates and visionary corporate leaders. These gains are also evidence of the overwhelming public support for employment protections for LGBT workers. Anti-discrimination measures have helped to protect workers in many places, but millions more remain unprotected. LGBT people continue to remain invisible on the job and many suffer open harassment and discrimination simply because of who they are. Passing ENDA will go a long way to rectify this inequity and indignity.

According to numerous surveys, 60 percent of likely voters in the United States support an inclusive federal employment non-discrimination law. The time to pass ENDA is now.

We urge Congress to take speedy action to put this bill on the President’s desk. LGBT employees work just as hard and contribute just as much as other workers. They should not have to fear losing their jobs because of their sexual orientation or gender identity.

We need to join together and engage with Congress by contacting your Senators until the bill is passed and signed into law. Visit website for steps you can take TODAY to pass an inclusive ENDA. And keep checking back—we’ll keep you posted every step of the way.